Story: 3.5 / 5

Video Quality: 4 / 5

Audio Quality: 4.5 / 5

Extras: 3 / 5

Following Disney and Pixar’s success with Toy Story, the studios looked to follow their hit with a new ensemble of characters. In stepped Wreck-It Ralph, an animated feature film that substitutes the toys in favor of retro 8-bit arcade game characters from the 80s, drawing in gaming and animation fans alike. It was a perfect formulae that proved a huge hit with audiences both young and old. Sitting back and re-watching Wreck-It Ralph on 3D Blu-ray only further highlights the similarities between the two aforementioned films, as they delve between similar themes – the old and unwanted, the outcast and the new model. Even still, it’s hard to argue that this heart-warming, entertaining animation wasn’t the best animated film of 2012. It really is fun!

As expected from a Disney home entertainment release, the Wreck-It Ralph 3D Blu-ray comes packaged with a fair amount of cool features and tidbits, only further enhanced by the really amazing video and audio quality presentation. The extras include a 3D high-definition version of the Oscar-winning digital black and white short, Paperman – easily one of Disney’s best works to date. If the main feature film wasn’t enough to get your attention, Paperman certainly will. It’s simply breathtaking and brings on all the charm and wonder of a true Disney classic cartoon.

The Story

Ralph (Reilly) is the villain of a timeless arcade game called Fix-It Felix Jr. Every day Ralph is defeated by Felix, who receives all the adoration of the other videogame inhabitants, while Ralph is left in the mud below. Ralph attends support meetings with other videogame villains, who all have to deal with such concerns. This meeting is actually one of the best scenes in the movie, including Bowser, Zangief, a zombie, Satan, and more. From there, Ralph resolves to become a hero, and first finds himself in the space marine game “Hero’s Duty,” a spot-on parody of Halo and Call of Duty style games. From there, he travels to the ultra-saccharine candy world of Sugar Rush, where he finds himself involved with the cute and spunky Vanellope von Schweetz (Silverman). The story is naturally heartwarming at stages with a predictable happy ending, but includes a few twists along the way that keep things exciting.

What’s great about the video game aspects of the movie is how they include actual series, like Mario and Sonic, and place them against the fictional ones in ways that show the creators understand classic video games. There are also countless little Easter eggs for clued-up viewers; like graffiti reading “Aeris Lives!” on the background of a wall in certain scenes.

The characters are likable, the jokes are funny, the story is engaging and the video game jokes are well made and plentiful. Theres something here for old and young alike, especially for those of us who have grown up with video games.

Video Quality

Wreck-It Ralph comes to Blu-ray with a dazzling, flawless and eye-popping 1080p/MPEG-4 aVC-encoded transfer (MVC-encoded for the 3D version). It’s remarkably sharp all the way through, rich in colour, with perfect details and deep blacks to match. Although the animators paid less attention to creating gimmicky in-your-face 3D (Wreck-It Ralph favors inward 3D layering), the experience is fun and enjoyable. As Ralph moves between the various gaming worlds, the 3D alters slightly according to each respective style and feel. Those who found the theatrical 3D release disappointing, should consider a second look on 3D Blu-ray. It’s definitely a huge improvement, with plenty to show off.

Audio Quality

The 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track is everything you would expect from a film of this standard. It’s remarkably crisp and clean, filling up the room with each scene’s atmospheric sound. Wreck-It Ralph’s Blu-ray audio makes full use of your surround sound’s capabilities, working the lows and the highs equally. Henry Jackman’s great score blends in perfectly will all the action on-screen. Like the video and story, the audio team had loads of fun creating the perfect sound to match the film’s playfulness.

Extras

Wreck-It Ralph comes packaged with the familiar extras expected with a Disney release.

Conclusion

The Wreck-It Ralph 3D Blu-ray (Ultimate Collector’s Edition) isn’t perfect, but will fit neatly into your animated film collection. It’s fun and should keep the kids entertained for a few hours, but it lacks a bit in the extras department. On the other hand, it does have Paperman as an extra. That alone makes this Blu-ray worth its weight in gold.